Summary

Gold coin; Denomination Stater
Issued by King Verica of the Atrebates Tribe

Verica was the youngest son of Commius, King of the Atrebates. He siezed the throne from his brother Eppillus circa AD15 and was recognised as King by the Romans. This coin is of superior workmanship to the normal British Celtic gold and it has been suggested that the dies may have been of Roman workmanship (Mack p.55). The coin has a vine leaf dividing Verica's name VI RI on the obverse and on the reverse a horseman leaping to the right, a shield strapped to his back with the letters COF around (son of Commius in abbreviated Latin).

Obverse Description

VI RI on either side of vine leaf

Reverse Description

Horseman galloping right carrying shield & spear; around, C O F

Edge Description

plain

Significance

In Gaul the Atrebates lived roughly in the area known today as Artois (derived from the tribal name) in Northern France. When Julius Caesar began his conquest of the area they committed men to a regional alliances but were unable to defend themselves. Caesar established or recognised Commius as their King and he was involved, on the Roman side, in Caesar's two invasions of Britain (55 and 54 BC). However, Commius later joined the revolt of Vercingetorix against the Romans and ended up taking refuge in Britain with many of the Atrebates.
In Britain the Atrebates settled in an area around modern Hampshire, Surrey and western Sussex, which had earlier links with migration or invasion from Gaul. Under the influence of Commius they soon came to rule this area. The first Roman Emperor, Augustus recorded two British Kings presenting themselves to him one of these is believed to have been Tincommius a brother of Verica, the lands of the Atrebates were recognised by the Romans as a client kingdom. Tincommius and his two brothers, Eppillus and Verica, who both ruled after him, issued coins bearing their names.
A bordering tribe, the Catuvellauni under their chief Cunnobuline and later his son Caratacus eventually conquered the lands of the Atrebates. Verica fled to Rome and gave the Roman Emperor Claudius a pretext for his invasion and conquest of Britain in AD 43.

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